Merging for Impact: Radically rethinking how we deliver impact

Is your organisation fit to tackle today's challenges? The mission of a non-profit organisation is vast and complex, and the environment in which it operates is in constant evolution. Operational models that seemed relevant a few years ago might not be the best ones today, and the sector should explore innovative ways to deliver impact.This publication explores one radical option: merging with another actor in the field. Mergers are still uncommon in the non-profit sector, often met with fierce resistance. However, we are convinced that they can increase impact in many situations, and that they should thus be considered more often.In 2015, MAVA Foundation merged with FIBA, becoming just one legal entity under the name of MAVA Foundation. Drawing from our experiences, 'Merging for Impact: Radically rethinking how we deliver impact' outlines what it takes to approach such a change in structure, then explores the impact we have measured from our merger through feedback from the field. Looking back, we are convinced the venture has been a success

Be an Octopus : Reflections from an Engaged Donor

After more than 25 years of activity, and one year before the closing of MAVA, a small group of staff members reflected on what it really means to be "an engaged donor". In this report, the authors explore ways of engagement for donors, reflect on those they have experimented, putting an emphasis on improving project design and implementation, supporting partner organisations and high potential individuals, and increasing the system connectivity.Also included are key lessons learnt presented around the issues of optimal timing, depth of engagement, human relationships, appropriate staffing, decision-making model and communicating vs labelling a donor-partner affiliation. The authors try to address concrete questions faced in their engaged donor day-to-day life. This report is part of a series of learning products developed by MAVA (due to cease its grant-making in 2022) to reflect on and share the foundation's learnings about institution processes and ways of working, with the aim of inspiring donor strategies and best practices, . Other learning products are available here: https://mava-foundation.org/learning/

Strategic Partnerships: MAVAs approach to scaling up conservation impact

The world faces big challenges for nature, society, and the economy. The coming decade is the time we have to find solutions that put us on the right path towards a better future. Today's interconnected and interdependent world requires people and organisations from multiple backgrounds and interests to find a better way to work together on shared objectives in order to find these solutions.MAVA Foundation, whose vision is to create a world where biodiversity thrives and the economy supports human prosperity and a healthy planet, had to step up and walk the talk. In 2016, MAVA embarked with its partners on a transformative journey, aimed at ambitious and sustainable impact through meaningful collaboration.We share our learnings on this approach in a publication collectively written by MAVA and FOS Europe staff, with inputs from MAVA partners